PARTNERS IN LIFE AND LOVE
A Preparation Handbook for the Celebration of Catholic Marriage

This booklet is designed to give couples an introduction to the Church's teaching on the Sacrament of Marriage based on the new Catechism of the Catholic Church and to help them prepare their wedding liturgy. As such it will be found useful in both group and individual sessions with the priest or deacon assisting in their preparation for marriage as well as by those persons who want to deepen or renew their understanding and appreciation of the sacrament they have or are about to receive. The chapter on the Catholic teaching on the sacrament is followed by the Liturgical Rite of Marriage. The couple is invited to personalize their wedding ceremony by selecting the scripture readings, prayers, and blessings they feel most express their love for one another and to choose as well the words to be used in their exchange of vows. For this purpose a detachable Liturgy Planner is provided at the back of the booklet. A brief after word and short bibliography of suggested supplementary reading material are also included.

About the Authors:
- Joseph R. Giandurco, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, is Professor of Marriage Canon Law at St. Joseph's Seminary. He received his STB degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University, an STL from the Alphonsianum of the Pontifical Lateran University and his JCL and JCD in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas.
- John S. Bonnici, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, is the Director of the Family Life/Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of New York where he supervises marriage preparation programs that reach thousands of couples each year. He received his STB degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University and an STL and STD in Moral Theology from the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. He has also written Person to Person (Alba House, 1999).